Article of manufacture and textile treatment process

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture and methods for making the same are disclosed. The article includes a unit of fabric that has been softened by being at least partially submerged in geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, the geothermal water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L. The submerging includes exposing the unit of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the unit of fabric to render the softening of the unit of fabric.

BACKGROUND

Modern apparel, such as denim jeans or jackets, is pre-processed before sale in order to look and feel worn. Such processing can include subjecting the apparel, which is typically in the form of a fabric, to various chemicals or chemical-containing water. Some of the chemicals used by the apparel industry to process their apparel are very harmful or noxious to the environment and to humans. Further, most conventional processes used to treat apparel waste water and other resources. Water is a critical natural resource, but when used in processing apparel, the water is typically treated with chemicals, solvents, or other harmful compounds.

SUMMARY

This document discloses an article of manufacture, and methods of making the same, for a processed unit of fabric. The unit of fabric can be formed, i.e., cut and sewn, into a garment such as jeans, a jacket, or the like. Preferably, the unit of fabric is formed of cotton or cotton twill, but in some implementations may be formed of wool, nylon, polyester or other natural or synthetic fiber. The methods include utilizing an unprocessed natural source of water, such that further chemicals, solvents or the like are not added to the water.

In one aspect, a method of treating one or more units of fabric includes the steps of providing the one or more units of fabric to geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, in which the geothermal water has a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L. The method further includes the step of exposing the one or more units of fabric to the geothermal water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the one or more units of fabric to render a softening of each of the one or more units of fabric. The method further includes the step of removing the one or more units of fabric from exposure to the geothermal water to yield one or more units of softened fabric.

In another aspect, an article of manufacture is described. The article of manufacture includes a unit of fabric that has been softened by being at least partially submerged in geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source. As described above, the geothermal water has a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L. The submerging includes exposing the unit of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the unit of fabric to render the softening of the unit of fabric.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method of treating one or more units of fabric to achieve a desired look and feel of the fabric;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of treating one or more units of fabric and/or finished sewn garments;

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating a mineral composition of geothermal in an exemplary implementation.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document describes an article of manufacture and methods of making the same. In some implementations, the article of manufacture is an apparel item formed of denim, but in other implementations can be an apparel item formed of any material, natural or synthetic. In preferred implementations, the article of manufacture is formed of a sturdy cotton twill fabric, commonly known as “denim.” However, the methods described herein can be applied to other types of fabric or woven apparel.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method of treating one or more units of fabric to achieve a desired look and feel of the fabric without the harmful byproducts of waste water laden with chemicals, solvents, or the like. At 102, one or more units of fabric are provided to geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source. The geothermal water can be obtained from a well, a spring, or other natural source, and can be sequestered in a pool, pond, tank or other water sequestration mechanism. Importantly, the geothermal water must have a set of very specific properties, including having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L, The method includes, at 104, exposing the one or more units of fabric to the geothermal water in one or more cycles. Each of the one or more cycles can have a duration of between 1 and 6 hours or more, which is sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the one or more units of fabric, to render a softening of each of the one or more units of fabric. At 106, the one or more units of fabric are removed from exposure to the geothermal water to yield one or more units of softened fabric.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of treating one or more units of fabric and/or finished sewn garments, in accordance with alternative implementations. At 202, raw, stiff textiles and/or finished sewn garments are tumbled with a mixture of stones and sand for abrasion treatment, for a duration of one to six hours, or more. The resultant textile or garment is softened. At 204, the textiles and/or finished garments are rinsed in geothermal water, in a source directly from the ground, preferably having a temperature of 140 degrees but between 100 and 180 degrees, for a duration of one to four hours. The result is a natural softening and mineral breakdown of fabric colors and stiffness.

At 206, the textiles and/or finished garments are then baked in the outdoors under natural sunlight, preferably on a cloudless day. The duration for this baking is at least one day and up to twenty days for more extreme effect. The result is a natural bleaching of the fabric of the textiles and/or finished garments. At 208, the textiles and/or finished garments are further rinsed in geothermal water, from a natural source, preferably having a temperature of 140 degrees but between 100 and 180 degrees. The result is a further natural softening and mineral breakdown of fabric colors and stiffness.

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating a mineral composition of geothermal in an exemplary implementation. The mineral composition shown is exemplary only, and the various mineral components can vary by anywhere from 1% to 25% of their stated composition shown in FIG. 3.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method of treating one or more units of fabric, the method comprising: providing the one or more units of fabric to geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, the geothermal water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L; exposing the one or more units of fabric to the geothermal water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the one or more units of fabric to render a softening of each of the one or more units of fabric; and removing the one or more units of fabric from exposure to the geothermal water to yield one or more units of softened fabric.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises magnesium in a range of l5 mg/L to 20 mg/L.
 3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises potassium in a range of 30 mg/L to 60 mg/L.
 4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises manganese in a range of 0.1 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L.
 5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises chloride in a range of 1000 mg/L to 2000 mg/L.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises flouride in a range of 2 mg/L to 8 mg/L.
 7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises sulfate in a range of 150 mg/L to 300 mg/L.
 8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises boron in a range of 3 mg/L to 6 mg/L.
 9. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the geothermal water has an alkalinity as CaCO3 in a range of 250 mg/L to 350 mg/L.
 10. A method of treating one or more units of fabric, the method comprising: providing the one or more units of fabric to water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L; exposing the one or more units of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the one or more units of fabric to render a softening of each of the one or more units of fabric; and removing the one or more units of fabric from exposure to the water to yield softened one or more units of fabric.
 11. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises magnesium in a range of l5 mg/L to 20 mg/L.
 12. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises potassium in a range of 30 mg/L to 60 mg/L.
 13. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises manganese in a range of 0.1 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L.
 14. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises chloride in a range of 1000 mg/L to 2000 mg/L.
 15. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises flouride in a range of 2 mg/L to 8 mg/L.
 16. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises sulfate in a range of 150 mg/L to 300 mg/L.
 17. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises boron in a range of 3 mg/L to 6 mg/L.
 18. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the geothermal water has an alkalinity as CaCO3 in a range of 250 mg/L to 350 mg/L.
 19. An article of manufacture comprising: a unit of fabric that has been softened by being at least partially submerged in geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, the geothermal water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L, the at least partially submerging including exposing the unit of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the unit of fabric to render the softening of the unit of fabric.
 20. The article of manufacture in accordance with claim 19, in which the unit of fabric has been formed into an article of clothing. 